Published 01 October 2026
Bunbury City Council has voted 5 to 4 not to support a proposed planning scheme amendment for five currently undeveloped sites along Ocean Drive in Bunbury’s Back Beach Precinct.
The decision was contrary to the recommendation of the City of Bunbury’s professional officers, who recommended the amendment be supported subject to modifications.
The proposed amendment followed extensive assessment and sought to change the planning framework applying to the precinct, including rezoning three sites to Residential R60 and two to Mixed Use – Commercial R80.
In forming their recommendation, City officers considered the applicable State and local planning framework, the City’s Local Housing Strategy, technical traffic and environmental assessments, feedback received through 60 days of public consultation and advice from relevant State agencies and service authorities. No service authority objected to the proposal, while modifications were recommended to address environmental management requirements raised by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
The officer assessment also recognised that the five sites remain undeveloped under the existing planning framework and that the proposed changes would provide greater flexibility for future residential, mixed-use and tourism-related development.
Council ultimately resolved not to support the amendment, stating that while it supports development of the land in principle, it did not consider sufficient justification had been provided to change the existing planning framework. Council also raised concerns about potential housing density, tourism accommodation and the need for a broader strategic approach to the Back Beach precinct.
The City’s administration respects the recommendation of Council to not support the proposed scheme amendment. It is equally important that our community understands the professional advice provided to Council and the work undertaken by City staff to support informed decision-making.
The Council resolution will now form part of the statutory planning process for the scheme amendment for the WA Planning Commission to decide.
Read the full officer report and Council resolution.
City of Bunbury CEO Alan Ferris said the organisation would continue to provide Council with robust, evidence-based professional advice on significant planning and development matters.
“Our community expects the City to be actively looking for opportunities to address housing, encourage appropriate development and make better use of land that has remained undeveloped,” he said.
“Our staff also have a professional responsibility to assess proposals on their merits and provide Council with clear advice based on the planning framework, technical evidence, community consultation and the City’s adopted strategies.
“In the case of the Back Beach precinct, our professional officers undertook that work and recommended that Scheme Amendment No. 16 be supported, subject to modifications.
“Council ultimately determined, by a 5 to 4 vote, not to support that recommendation. That is a decision Council is entitled to make.
“But I also think it is important that we are transparent with our community when this occurs. A Council decision that differs from an officer recommendation should not diminish the considerable professional work that has gone into developing or assessing a proposal, nor should it create the impression that the organisation has not been actively pursuing opportunities for Bunbury.
“We will continue to bring forward well-researched, evidence-based recommendations that we believe respond to the challenges and opportunities facing our city – including housing supply, economic development and the activation of strategically important land.
“And we will be clear with our community about what our professional officers have recommended, what Council has decided and what those decisions mean for Bunbury.”